The Novice Alchemist's Store

The next morning we had Mr. Leonora keep our luggage, we were walking through the town of South Strag looking for Mr. Marley, a retired gatherer.

South Strag is an absurd city to compare to the village of York.

It is inherently very difficult to find one human being in a place like this.

But only this time, fortunately, Mr. Filione had obtained information about his approximate place of residence.

No, if I may be precise, it's worth Mr. Filione's effort, I wonder what.

Because he also told them in advance that he was' looking for a retired gatherer named Marley '.

Nonetheless, I can only say that Mr. Filione's ability to gather information that can be starred at in a few days is amazing.

"It should be around the corner by the story..."

"Oh, isn't that the house?

After some time in the area where Mr. Filione taught me, information about Mr. Marley was gathered immediately.

What I found based on that was this whole house.

Small garden and about half the building in my shop.

Owner, or renter? Not so much a splendid house, but due to its well-maintained appearance, it may be a reasonably successful gatherer.

- Anyway, being able to retire alive is in itself a category of successful gatherers. Because it's quite a dangerous profession.

"Forgive me!

Knocking on the door of the house to wait. For the time being, what came out was a bald head and a grandfather who had accumulated a white and fine beard.

The years that have gone by were engraved on its face as wrinkles, but a body that does not make you feel firmly stretched hips and impoverished makes you feel previous years as a gatherer.

Such a dazed grandfather turned a surprise glance at us for a sudden visit and opened his mouth.

"What is it? Ladies."

"Um, this is Marley's house, who was a gatherer in the village of York, and I heard..."

"Ho, a nostalgic name came up. Certainly not Marley. What about the ladies?

"I'm Sarasa, an alchemist in the village of York, and this is Iris, the gatherer. If you don't mind, I'd like to talk to you."

When I told her what to do, Mr. Marley opened the door wide, turning the surprised look into a delightful grin.

"Oh, good, good. Come on, come in."

"I'm sorry to bother you"

"Excuse me. (- Sounds like a good guy, doesn't it?

I also give small assent to Mr. Iris whispering to Kosoli.

When I heard "Retired Collector," I took the liberty of imagining "Bigoted Grandpa," which was completely different from what I imagined.

But when you think about it, maybe it's also inevitable that the population is soft because you're retired so successfully and safely?

Even collectors don't work alone.

If you have so many problems with your ability to communicate that you can't do well with your surroundings, you won't want help even if you do, and I'm sure you'll retire from your life before the collector retires.

That's why gatherers aren't sweet enough to succeed with all the safe work.

In other words, at a time when I was able to live in this town in a relaxed and comfortable manner after my retirement, I was almost certain that I was a decent person, you might say.

"Excuse me. I asked you suddenly."

"I don't mind. I'm not in a position to be touched, and I'm free."

Mr. Marley laughed softly, recommending a chair to us, and then lowered his back in front of us himself.

"So, what do you want to hear?

"It's about Missanon roots. Unfortunately, there are no people in the village with experience in collecting..."

"Ho ho. This time of year, doesn't it mean going into the winter mountains? That's a little dangerous. Not in this generation and... are Andre and the others still here?

"Yes. That Mr. Andre told me and I paid him a visit. I also have general knowledge…"

If you add that you want to hear from someone who has experienced the actual scene, Mr. Marley unconsciously or while stroking his hairless head "I see. them," he nodded.

"I didn't even tell Andre about the collection in Winter Mountain. Wait a minute."

Mr Marley said so and took his seat off a little bit, he came back with one large piece of paper and spread it over the table.

"Is this too much to say when you say the aggregation of Non's life - etc. Well, when I was a collector, I took care of the next thing in my life."

What was depicted on that paper was a detailed map of the Great Tree Sea area.

Around it there were many writings in considerable detail, such as the materials obtained there, the dangerous places and the type of demons.

I have a book on the Great Tree Sea, too, but compared to that, it seems to me to have a lot more site-ready information.

- Oh, there's a pile of salamanders.

Though the writing reads' Hell Flame Grizzly lives on '.

"Non has also retired for a long time. The information is a little old, but to a certain extent, it can be used. It's not around here that Missanon roots can be harvested. Then..."

Mr. Marley shows one part of the map with a pong and a finger, from which he slips his finger into an area surrounded by red and circles.

"This is not the problem. There's a snowglide centipede around here."

"Is it a giant worm (centipede)...... Uh-huh, that's a pain in the ass."

"Uhm. Because of that, even when Non was active, he rarely went to pick up Missanon roots in the winter. I went there a couple of times when I gathered gatherers with strong armpits... but I needed the price."

That's what Mr. Marley says, he flaunts his face, and I too roar at more obstacles than I thought.

But Mr. Iris, who was listening beside him, twisted his neck with his doubts in his face.

"Master, what is the giant worm?

"Don't you know Mr. Iris? - If we don't get to meet, is that what it is?"

A giant worm (centipede), as its name suggests, is a giant worm in general, which is called an object roughly larger than a human child.

I rarely get to see it near people, mostly living behind woods that are out of people's hands, etc. Bigger objects can be bigger than a few adults.

If there is salvation, isn't everything about giant worms (centipede) aggressive? But bugs are bugs, so if possible, they're the ones I don't want to see.

"For the ski giant worm Snow Glide Centipede, it's about the size of a small cabin. It's quite a nasty enemy, moving and attacking you as you glide over the snow. If you don't get into the territory, you won't be attacked, but once you're hostile, they say it's hard to escape because you're persistent."

"You're not right, miss. We had no choice but to sacrifice ourselves when Non and the others met."

You remember that time, Mr. Iris glances at Mr. Marley's words with a heavy sigh.

"... could it be quite dangerous?

"That's what you're saying. - Well, the giant worm (centipede) itself, compared to a salamander or something, is a threat to an extent that makes no sense to compare."

"Hmm, when they say that, it's kind of..."

"Dude, that's not comparable, is it?

I looked at Mr. Iris, who loosened his expression a little hoarsely, and shook his head as if Mr. Marley had been frightened, but now Mr. Marley glanced at Mr. Iris' next words.

"No, the manager is killing Salamander."

"Oh, my God! Hmm, that's right, you're not an alchemist. I don't know what Nong knows because he's getting old... didn't he have to worry? If you don't mind, you can take this map home."

To my unexpected offer, I accidentally stared seriously at Mr. Marley's face.

"Are you sure? Didn't you take care of it?

"I don't mind. I spent my life creating it, but I can't help it if it's not used. I actually thought about giving it to Andre and the others when I retired... because I could teach them on the ground."

If you only give information such as lucrative materials, you may look sweetly at the dangers and the like and be impotent.

I hear Mr. Marley left this map at hand, saying that if he couldn't teach, there could be an accident.

"Thank you, that helps. How does this thank you...?

"Hmm? You don't need Non anymore, do you? It's not the same age that my grandmother cares about."

You felt my gaze go that way with chills, Mr. Marley slaps his hairless head with a pessine and laughs.

"But... well, I don't mind if you give this information to that village collector as far as you think you need it. It's because I haven't been able to inherit the experience... Andre and the others are here, right?

"Yes, he's been active as a veteran"

"Look, they're veterans... it's not too early."

When I nod, Mr. Marley laughs with pleasure and continues his words with a little frown.

"Well, I guess the fact that I came to Nong means I'm still experientially immature. If Nong is ten years younger, I'll go work him out... Miss, I don't mind if I can afford it. Why don't they just work out a little bit?

It is also in my interest to see more of what Mr. Andre and the others can collect.

Naturally, for no reason, I nodded, "Yes, I understand."